North: Random thoughts on Illini, Northwestern, Cubs and more
Time for some random thoughts.
What about Jim Phillips to University of Illinois?
Phillips is a family man and a city guy (Portage Park) who is the athletic director at Northwestern. Why would he even consider leaving such a prestigious school? Where is the downside at Northwestern unless there are issues we don't know about?
I do know Illinois would be blessed to have him, and maybe he relishes the challenge, but it would be worse than going back to Northern. Sorry I don't mean to insult Northern Illinois.
My advice to Phillips, a 1990 Illinois grad: stay put pal.
• The Chicago Cubs are moving to WSCR 670-AM. Remember when The Score first started and several critics only gave it six months? Now they are going to be broadcasting Cubs games. Wow!
• I talked to Jeff Long, playoff guru and College Football Playoff chairman, on my Fox Sports radio show. He has a difficult job, but for the life of me I don't understand why winning and being undefeated isn't considered the standard for the rankings.
How can there be two teams (Alabama and Notre Dame) in the top four when both have a loss, but there are still very good undefeated teams like Iowa ranked lower?
Maybe the great Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi quote should be: "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing unless your schedule is considered weak!:
• Here are my college football playoff rankings: 1. Ohio State; 2. Clemson; 3. Oklahoma State; 4. Iowa. Rearrange them any way you want, but they are all undefeated teams.
• The Chicago Bears have a shot to beat the St. Louis Rams this Sunday. If they manage to pull off a victory, the Bears will be 4-5. In my world, John Fox should then get some consideration for coach of the year. I'm not kidding!
• My favorite young player today is Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks. He reminds me of Dirk Nowitzki, only taller. And at this stage, he's tougher than Nowitzki was. He had 15 boards and 10 points the other night against the Charlotte Hornets and has four double doubles in his last six games.
• Other NBA rookies getting it done early are Chicago's Jahlil Okafor with the Philadelphia 76ers and Karl Anthony Towns with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• The Golden State Warriors (9-0 through Wednesday) are on autopilot and I no longer think LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. That is Stephen Curry, and it's not even close.
• I love politicians going after fantasy football sites. Aren't these the same people who want you to purchase lottery tickets?
Here in Illinois, the state is leaning against the fantasy industry. This state shouldn't be against anything in light of reports lottery winners aren't getting paid on time. I don't play fantasy, but I think it's a joke for government to interfere. It just reeks of them wanting a piece of the action, which probably is the only way it will be allowed to continue.
Have a great week.
Program notes:
Follow me on Twitter@ north2north, and listen to Fox Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman and myself from 5-8 a.m. Monday through Friday on Fox Sports radio, and check me out on iHeart radio or Foxsportsradio.com. Listen to my postgame Bears show on The Drive 97.1-FM every Sunday.
• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.